The Dialogue with Shandong 2021 - Germany-Shandong Industry Cooperation and Exchange Seminar, with the theme of "Strengthening Cooperation in Innovation for Mutual Industrial Development", kicked off officially on October 28th, 2021. As a leading global supplier of automation technology and a worldwide market leader in industrial training, Festo was invited to the event to share its views on the two themes of intelligent manufacturing and talent training.

Deepening Localization to Empower Industrial Upgrading with Intelligent Manufacturing

To strengthen its "localization", the Festo Jinan Global Production Center was put into full operation in April 2021. Upon the completion of the entire project, the Center will become the Group's largest and most technologically advanced production center in the world, as well as the Group's largest logistics base worldwide, making it an intelligent manufacturing "engine" in the era of Industry 4.0.

With the support of the established strategy, the cooperation between Festo and Shandong industry appears to be even more inevitable and easier. Providing intelligent automation solutions for the manufacturing industry has always been the mission of Festo. The gradual improvement of the functional construction of Festo Jinan Global Production Center will further speed up Festo's joint local smart manufacturing with Shandong.

Nurturing Talents to Shape the Cradle of Craftsmen in the Era of Industry 4.0

Talent is also a key factor in promoting the implementation of the intellectualization of local enterprises. In the future, Festo will give full play to its technical advantages based on the intelligent manufacturing base of Jinan Global Production Center, so as to create a collaborative innovation and technology platform for the integration of industry and education through the construction of Jinan exhibition hall and training center, thus facilitating the upgrading and development of the intelligent manufacturing industry in Jinan.

In the meantime, Festo will also strengthen the cooperation with local universities and enterprises in Shandong, and make the training center an internship base for higher education institutions, so that more students can improve their practical skills through practice based on theoretical knowledge to become advanced technical talents who can meet the future demand of Industry 4.0 and cater to the needs of intelligent factories.

Sebastian Beck, President of Festo Business Region Greater China, said that, "Festo Business Region Greater China has made remarkable achievements in 2021, which are impossible without the support from the government, customers and the community. Currently, Festo Jinan Global Production Center is still under further construction and expansion to continuously improve the level and scale of intelligent manufacturing to satisfy the market demand. More specialists are welcomed to join us to build the benchmark of intelligent factory in the era of Industry 4.0."